Leave Gabby and her hair alone

Black women, please stop your assault on gymnast Gabby Douglas’s hair.

This is a feel good story that is being ruined by the cat fights on line and the culprits are black women who do not like Gabby’s hair. It is too greasy and does not look nice. She needs a session in a black barber salon they say. What up with the hair?

This is an issue that has been written about by mostly black columnist who are appalled by the attacks. Black women are obsessed with their hair. It does not matter if it hair that grows on their head or is bought in a beauty parlor. It is a daily issue that they spend billions of dollars on every year and spend hours some days getting it to look right.

The issue is so out of hand that I am going to attack this further in my health column in the Detroit News. Why? The reason is some experts believe one of the reasons black women do not work out is because they do not want to mess up their hair. There is even a blog devoted to the subject.

Here is what I will say. I was proud to see Gabby become the first black to win the women’s gymnastics all around title. I was proud to see that she was an American and I wish her the best in the future and I hope she has more jumps to come. But lets not ruin this moment for her. She trained in Iowa and I am sure there is a dearth of black hair care there. She could not roll out in a weave or braids because I am sure judges would frown on that and mark her lower.

The trademark hair in gymnastics is slicked back hair and a pony tail. Gabby was simply following tradition. Her hair might not have been the best but this woman should not be defined by her hair.

Leave Gabby alone.